-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Thursday that he is breaking off relations with Colombia . His decision comes as the Organization of American States meets to discuss Colombian claims that Venezuela is protecting FARC and ELN rebels in its territory .

The move is the biggest escalation in a year of simmering tensions between the two countries and their presidents .

Chavez said that under President Alvaro Uribe , Colombia has isolated itself and become `` aggressive and violent . ''

He called Uribe `` crazed '' and accused the United States of using Uribe as a puppet .

Uribe is in the final month of a presidency that has had many tensions with neighboring Venezuela , mostly over accusations that rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia -LRB- also known as FARC -RRB- and National Liberation Army -LRB- ELN -RRB- have camps in Venezuela .

Chavez said he hoped for better relations with Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos , who was Uribe 's defense minister and whose election was viewed as an affirmation of Uribe 's policies .

The Venezuelan leader spoke from his presidential palace , where he was holding a news conference with Argentine soccer coach Diego Maradona . Maradona 's visit was unrelated to the spat with Colombia .

Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Colombia on Friday in reaction to the accusations of protecting rebels .

Uribe is a two-term president who has received high approval ratings for his tough stand against FARC guerrillas , who have been waging war against the government for decades .

Colombia has accused Chavez of supporting the rebels , and Chavez has said Colombian officials and right-wing paramilitary units have plotted his assassination .

Security analysts say FARC guerrillas operate mostly in Colombia but have carried out extortion , kidnappings and other activities in Venezuela , Panama and Ecuador .

FARC is said to traffic in cocaine to finance its insurgency .

Colombia has also accused another neighbor , Ecuador , of giving refuge to rebels . In 2008 , Colombia carried out a raid in Ecuadorian territory that resulted in the killing of a top FARC leader .

Thursday was not the first time Chavez cut off diplomatic ties with Colombia .

A year ago , Chavez `` froze '' the nations ' relationship over Colombian accusations that Venezuelan weapons had made it into the hands of rebels .

Colombia said it had evidence that shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons recovered from FARC guerrillas were of Venezuelan origin . Venezuela denied the allegations and said the rebels may have stolen the weapons from a Venezuelan base .

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Hugo Chavez says relations with Colombia are totally broken

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Colombia accuses Venzuela of protecting rebels

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Chavez calls President Alvaro Uribe `` crazed ''

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He said he hopes for better relations with Colombia 's next president